For the fourth year running, the Romaeuropa Festival is opening its doors once again to the world of graphic design with the Design Talks project: a free one-day event entirely dedicated to imagery, experimentation, identity and new forms of visual communication. The event, curated by Stefano Cipolla and Studio Mistaker and coordinated by David Aprea, REF’s communications manager, will take place at La Pelanda in the Mattatoio in Rome on 26 September 2026
Design Talks reaffirms itself as an opportunity to build bridges of communication between professionals and a new generation of illustrators, typographers, graphic designers, students, publishers and enthusiasts. A programme of round-table discussions, talks, a market, thesis projects and workshops invites the public to explore graphic design as a tool for cultural and social expression, capable of connecting people, ideas and stories.
The day kicks off from 11.00 to 13.00 with the Thesis Projects, moderated by Aprea: on stage, four students, alongside their respective supervisors, from Rome’s leading design schools (IED, ISIA, NABA and RUFA) will present four selected thesis projects, in a session dedicated to showcasing the new generation and creative excellence.
This is followed in the Galleria delle Vasche, from 11.30 am to 1.00 pm, by ‘Sconfinamenti’, a conversation between Stefano Cipolla and Francesco Valtolina, art director of Mousse – two leading figures in contemporary editorial graphic design – who discuss the relationship between graphic design, publishing and visual culture. In the afternoon, from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm, the programme continues with the two main events of the Design Talks: a panel moderated by Martina Tariciotti (Studio Mistaker) featuring Due Studio, Tiziana Alocci and Federico Antonini, who represent different experiences and approaches in the fields of design and visual communication; followed by a one-on-one discussion between Stefano Cipolla and Studio Temp. The day’s events will conclude at 6.00 pm with *Spazi di progettazione*, hosted by Valerio Di Mario, dedicated to a discussion of experiences and practices in contemporary design.
Bringing the Galleria delle Vasche to life throughout the day, from 11.00 to 19.00, will also be ‘Paper Market’, the exhibition and market dedicated to independent publishing, featuring twelve illustrators, exhibitors and designers from Rome, Brescia, Paris, Palermo, Padua and the Salento region: an opportunity to discover and purchase publications, fanzines, posters and editorial projects outside the traditional circuits.
Rounding off the programme are workshops for young children, organised by Betterpress Lab (Che Typo Sei?) and SHE.LAB (FLIP! FLAP! BOOM! and Un quaderno in cinque punti), held in several sessions throughout the day and divided by age group, starting from 5 years old when accompanied by an adult. Through movable-type printing, collage and bookbinding, participants will be able to experiment with paper and images, creating their own compositions, small books and published items. Booking is essential to take part in the workshops.
(from the press release)
DESIGN TALKS, 26 September, MATTATOIO – ROME 11:00 to 19:00, Free entry subject to availability | Workshops: booking required
TALK PROGRAMME – Free entry subject to availability
11:00 – 13:00 – Mattatoio T1
THESIS PROJECTS
11.30 am – 1.00 pm – Mattatoio Galleria delle Vasche
SCONFINAMENTI
3.00 pm – 5.30 pm – Mattatoio T1
PANEL and TALK
6.00 pm – Mattatoio – Galleria delle Vasche
DESIGN SPACES moderated by Valerio Di Mario
PAPER MARKET
11:00 – 19:00 – Mattatoio – Galleria delle Vasche
LIST OF EXHIBITORS
DITO Publishing, Rome
Krisis Publishing, Brescia
Leporello photobooks, Rome
les cerises, Paris/Rome
Numero Cromatico, Rome
OFFICINEAMARO | design studio, Gagliano del Capo (LE)
Studio Pica, Palermo
XEROXED, Padua
KIDS’ WORKSHOP
11:00 – 11:45 / 12:00 – 12:45 / 15:00 – 15:45 / 16:00 – 16:45 / 17:00 – 17:45
Mattatoio – Cellette
Information on the Betterpress Lab workshop “What Type Are You?”
Information on the Galleria Varsi workshops “FLAP! FLAP! BOOM!” – “A notebook in five points”
